Chapter one - Exeunt

The first chapter from my novel in progress

A dark haired beauty sat in front of a gilt mirror while two other girls brushed her lush brown locks. A beautiful face stared back at her . Full lips, a perfect nose and large tip tilted eyes that were framed with the longest eyelashes in all of Swarga. However the once twinkling eyes were now devoid of any passion and filled with misery. There was something else in them as well �" resolution.

Another young woman came into the room. Her face was flushed as if she had been running and was out of breath. The girl in the mirror stood up and smiled at her  but like her eyes, her smile too was devoid of any feeling, it was but a courtesy. Nevertheless, it was dazzling.

‘Rani’ said the woman who had just arrived, ‘His Highness calls for you. The dance is about to begin and He says your presence is of paramount importance’.

Radha nodded at the two women who had been braiding her hair. They bowed to her and left.

‘Did you find out what I asked of you?’, Radha asked.

The woman hesitated, ‘Radha Rani, it’s really not my place’ ,She said, ‘If His Highness found out �"‘

Radha cut her off . ‘He will not find out’ ,she said fervently, ‘ I will make sure of it’

Then her voice softened, ‘ it is very important to me Meera . Please tell me all that you know. I cannot trust anyone else in the palace.’

Touched by this emotional outburst Meera said, ‘ Oh Rani, I don’t know how to tell you this without hurting you considerably’

Radha visibly braced herself, ‘ I need the truth Meera, I beg of you’, she whispered.

Meera gave up and spoke quickly and softly for fear of being overheard. ‘yes Rani he visited Princess Rukmani’s palace last night and another princess’ palace this afternoon. He has just returned clad in  different robes.’

Radha smiled and enveloped  her attendant in a warm embrace

. ‘You have done me a great favour’ she said, ‘ I hope I can repay you someday’

She then pulled away from the embrace and nodded to Meera who also  bowed and left the room. Radha dressed herself in her best lehenga �" a simple gold creation that beautifully complemented her complexion. She put a few Frangipani blossoms in her hair and wiped a tear from her cheek. She smiled and left swarga, her kingdom, forever.  According to legend, every flower in Swarga wilted in despair at her departure and the koyal birds, who’s melody resonated throughout the kingdom every morning at dawn, were never to be heard again.

A handsome young man sat on his throne. His usually kind, intelligent eyes now had a searching look in them. Meera entered the throne room where hundreds of people had gathered to view the glorious Rasa dance which was performed by all of Krishna’s wives and was truly a glorious sight to behold.

Little did they know the era of the Rasa dance had come to an end .There had been rumors that their beloved Princess Radha �" the star of this glorious dance- had fled the kingdom.

All 107 princesses were present and waiting but the main attraction, their lead Radha was nowhere to be found. The princesses had always resented Radha for many reasons. The primary one being their jealousy and many of them were secretly rather happy that she had left. They hoped in vain that the king would forget her and devote all his attentions to them .

The man on the throne strode towards Meera, his flute in hand. His muscular but lean body rippled as he walked and a silence fell over the assembly.

‘ Meera where is the princess?” he commanded

‘Krishna Maharaja’ , she replied, her voice quivering, ‘ I found the room untreasured of its mistress but I did find this note’

As she said the above, she handed Him a piece of parchment that had been scribbled on in black ink

It said-

My Lord,

My sincerest apologies for the concern and inconvenience this letter may cause you. You might think lesser of me for avoiding a direct confrontation but I feared that my resolve would weaken considerably had I tried explaining this in person.

I have loved you for centuries My Lord and will continue to do so. However my love for you wounds me more than it pleasures me. Watching you fraternize with the other princesses hurts me a great deal as I have already mentioned to you. Despite all your promises to me you have been unable to remain faithful but do not worry, I do not blame you. I am now past resentment. If anything, I hold myself responsible for all my sorrow. In trying to mould you into something that you are not, I was only setting myself up for disappointment

. Likewise I cannot be moulded into something that I am not. I am territorial and jealous and miserable. Or more precisely �"loving you makes me territorial and jealous and miserable. i do not want to live like this anymore with centuries of wounds chafing me, but as I am unfortunately immortal I have no choice but to leave Swarga.

By the time this letter reaches you I will have gone. I pray you do not look for me and forget that I existed. Let me heal my Lord, which is something I can only do by forgetting . Let me forget My Lord. It is my only request.

Once yours,

Radha